Calibrachoa Plant Named &#39;DANOASUNLT&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Calibrachoa  cultivar named ‘DANOASUNLT’ is disclosed, characterized by a well branched, mounded plant habit. Plants produce an abundance of large purple flowers with darker violet veins and a yellow center and throat. The new variety is a  Calibrachoa , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Calibrachoa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘DANOASUNLT’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Calibrachoa varieties. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during February of 2012.

The seed parent is the unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Calibrachoa ‘cv. 11-2610’. The pollen parent is the, unpatented, propriety variety referred to as Calibrachoa ‘cv. 11-2631’. The new variety was discovered in October of 2012 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2012 crossing, in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ was first performed by terminal vegetative cuttings during October of 2012, at a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. Subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 20 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DANOASUNLT’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DANOASUNLT’ as a new and distinct Calibrachoa cultivar:

1. Semi-trailing growth habit. 2. Moderately well branched growth. 3. Flower color is an intense yellow. 4. Large flower size. 5. Abundant flowering.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Calibrachoa ‘cv. 11-2610’ most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ differ in the following;

1. Semi-trailing growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a trailing growth habit. 2. Less branches than the seed parent. 3. Flower color is more intense yellow than the seed parent. 4. Smaller flowers than the seed parent. 5. More flowers per plant than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, Calibrachoa ‘cv. 11-2631’ most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ differ in the following;

1. Semi-trailing growth habit, whereas the pollen parent has a mounded growth habit. 2. More branches than the pollen parent. 3. Flower color is an intense yellow, whereas the seed parent has light yellow flowers. 4. Larger flowers than the seed parent. 5. More flowers than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Calibrachoa ‘NOA Banana’. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DANOASUNLT’ differs in the following:

1. Growth habit of comparison variety is mounded, while the new variety has a semi-trailing growth habit. 2. Flower color of comparison variety is light yellow, while flower color of the new variety is an intense yellow. 4. Flowering time of the comparison variety is earlier than that of the new variety. 5. The comparison variety is very well branched, while the new variety is moderately branched.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANOASUNLT’ can also be compared to the patented commercial variety Calibrachoa ‘DANOA37’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,958. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, ‘DANOASUNLT’ differs in the following:

1. Growth habit of comparison variety is mounded, while the new variety has a semi-trailing growth habit. 2. The comparison variety is less well branched than the new variety. 3. Flower color of comparison variety is yellow, while flower color of the new variety is an intense yellow. 4. Plant vigor of the comparison variety is weaker than the vigor of the new variety. 5. Flower size of the comparison variety is smaller than the flower size of the new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DANOASUNLT’ grown in a 13 cm pot in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a typical flower of ‘DANOASUNLT’. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DANOASUNLT’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under natural lighting. Measurements were taken during April of 2015. The plants were approximately 60 days from a rooted cutting in a 13 cm pot. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 35° C. during the days, 15° C. to 25° C. during the nights. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa hybrida ‘DANOASUNLT’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—10-14 days at approximately 20-22°             C. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing.         -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.         -   Height.—To top of flowers: about 11 cm.         -   Plant spread.—About 45 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Moderately branched.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—About 20 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—About 0.2 cm.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—8.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form:             Cylindrical Diameter: about 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Green 137D             Texture: Slightly pubescent Strength: Strong.         -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.         -   Root description.—Fibrous. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Alternate Quantity: Approximately 60 per             branch. Average Length: about 3 cm. Average Width: about             1 cm. Shape of blade: Elliptic Apex: Rounded Base: Acute             Margin: Entire Texture of top surface: Velvety Texture of             bottom surface: Velvety Pubescence: Pubescent Color: Young             foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 A Young foliage             under side: RHS Yellow-Green 146 B Mature foliage upper             side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 A Mature foliage under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 147 B Venation: Type: Pinnate Venation color             upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 A Venation color under             side: RHS Yellow-Green 147 C Petiole: Length: about 0.3 cm.             Diameter: about 0.2 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 147 A             Texture: Velvety. -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, Summer and Autumn, under             natural Israeli conditions.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—About 40 days.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, single             flower, salverform shape. Flowers facing up and out.         -   Rate of flower opening.—3 to 4 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—4-7 days.         -   Approximate quantity of flowers per plant.—About 80.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Bud.—Shape: tubular Length: about 2.5 cm Diameter: about 0.7             cm Color: RHS Yellow 6B.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: about 3.2 cm. Length: about 2.5 cm.             Flower tube diameter at distal end: about 1.0 cm. Flower             tube diameter at proximal end: about 0.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Length from throat: about 1.3 cm. Width: about             1.5 cm. Quantity: 5 Texture: velvety Apex: rounded Margin:             entire.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Yellow-Orange 14 A             Lower surface: RHS Yellow-Orange 14 B Fully opened: Upper             surface: RHS Yellow 12 A Lower surface: RHS Yellow 12 B         -   Flower throat (inside).—RHS Yellow 12 A.         -   Flower throat, vein.—RHS Yellow-green N144 A.         -   Flower tube (outside).—RHS Yellow 12 B.         -   Flower tube, vein.—RHS Yellow-green N144 B.         -   Petal color, fading to.—RHS Yellow 12 B.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear Length:             about 1.5 cm Width: about 0.4 cm Apex: Rounded Base: fused             Margin: entire Texture: velvety Color: Upper Surface: RHS             Yellow-Green 146 A Lower Surface: RI-IS Yellow-Green 146 B.         -   Peduncle.—Not relevant.         -   Pedicel.—Length: about 2 cm. Diameter: about 0.1 cm. Color:             RHS Yellow-Green 146 C Orientation: 45 degrees.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 5 Filament length: about 1 cm.         -   Anthers.—Length: about 0.1 cm Shape: Rounded Color: RHS             Yellow 8 B Pollen: Color: RHS Yellow 7 C Quantity: moderate             amount.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: about 1.2 cm. Style: Length: about             0.8 cm Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145 A Stigma: Shape: Rounded             Color: RHS Yellow-Green N144 B Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-Green             145A. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—about 30 brown, rounded seeds of about 0.5             mm diameter, per one brown, conical capsule.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Typical to other Calibrachoa             varieties.         -   Temperature tolerance.—5-30° C.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Typical to known Calibrachoa             varieties. Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the             normal diseases and pests of Calibrachoa have been observed.             Pests common to Calibrachoa include Aphids and thrips.             Typical diseases are Botrytis and Pythium.         -   Temperature tolerance.—5° C. to 30° C.         -   Drought tolerance.—No tolerance for drought. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘DANOASUNLT’ as herein illustrated and described. 